Oil separator



May 10, 1927.

T. K. MASSICKS OIL SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 2 1925 UNITED STATES AT ENTF QFFICE.

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' I on. snralwron.

Application filed January 29, 1825. Serial llo. 5,448.

The presentinvention relates to separators for recovering clean lubricating or t or oil from oilfco'ntaminated with water or lid impurities. y The object of the invention is-to provide such an apparatus of simple construction which operates. continuously with little at- "tention'. I 1 The accompanying drawing is a partly sectioned view of a separator according to the invention.

2 indicates an upper receiver into which the impure oil is fed. The oil may be fed in through a sieve 3 which strains out relatiyely large particles of solid matter. The

base 4 of the receiver is usually upwardly coned as shown, forming between the bzlse and the side walls an annulargutter 5 into which further solidmatter may settle. F Below the receiver 2 is a chamber'6 into which the liquid flows from the receiver, and which is placed under a head by the liquid in the receiver. Communication between the receiver and the chamber is effected by means of a conduit whlch may bea pipe 7 as shown.. The upper end 8 of the conduit is preferably some little distance above the bottomof the receiver so as to leave the annular gutter 5 available for settlement of solid matter directly out of the oil. The lower end 9 of the conduit 7 is preferably turned horizontally and disposed about the mid height of the chamb'er, or otherwise well away from both the oil and water outlets.

In the chamber 6 separation of oil from the water and solid matter take place by gravity; the chamber being made of such capacity having regard to the volume of oil to be treated ina given time, as to allow appropriate time for the separation to take place. The oil floats towards the top of'the chamber, which is preferablyconed or otherwise narrowed; being in the example shown the conical plate 4 which also constitutes the base of the receiver 2. From the apex of the cone an oil outlet. pipe 10 extends'outside the apparatus and is usuall fitted with a terminal-control cock 11. -'T e final oil out 9 vlet is preferably at about the chamber 6. 18 is which is-heavy enough to settle normal level of the liquid in the receiver 2, that is,

sli htly above the end 8 of the conduit 7'.

The water outlet 12 extends from the bottom of the chamber 6 and its lower end 13 is usually covered by a wire screen 14. vThis functions to arrest globules-of oil which tend I to be carried away with the water in case the apparatus is eing-operated above its normal capacity. The outflow end 1501 the outlet 12, is similar to the oil outlet, 60 usually elevated to about the: normal level of the liquid inthe receiver 2,so that'both' I liquids may be drawn off under a l w'head and without danger I of creating a flow through the apparatus. J

16 is agauge glass arranged to show the common surface- 7 of oil and water in the a heating coil. A drain coc or removable closure is fitted at 19 for; periodically cleaning settled solid chamber 6; In making use of the apparatus the im-- pure oil is fed into the receiver 2 passing thence by the conduit 7 and fillin the charm ber 6. In said strong tom. It is found desirable to maintain a of the chamber. With this object and also to prevent too sight in the gauge glass 16 and preferably in such a position that water covers the lower end 9 of the conduit 7. The necessary quantity of water for this purpose may 8 be charged into the apparatus before feeding of oil is begun. Oil is withdrawn continuously or periodically at 11 and water is similarly withdrawn at 15, the rate of flow of each being adjusted to keep thecommon surface of the liquids in the position last mentioned. i

I claim. i An oil separator comprising .a vessel, a conical partition dividing said vessel into an 95 upper receiver and a lower separating chamber,- a conduit whereby liquid in the receiver passes into the chamber and places the latter underhydraulic'head; the upper end of theconduit being elevated above the lower out of the 79 chamber the oi se arates. to the top and the water and dirt to t e botgreat an accumulation of 80' water; the surface of thewater is kept \in portion of the conical partition whereby the lower part of the receiver forlns a settlement space for solid sediment, anoll outlet from the chamber leading from the upper part of the conical partition, a water outlet from eemee regulatin the flow through said outlets, the lower en of the conduit being spaced substantially below the oil outlet and substantially above the Water outlet. 7

Signed at Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa, this 24thwday of December 1924.

THOMAS KITCHIN MASSICKS. 

